A case of changing identity

[archangel1313]

After registering to some of my favourite episodes the past few days I have come about an interesting, if unlikely, theory. Some of the characters mentioned in the more historical stories are present in the more modern ones. Namely, Joanna Magnus, Johan Von Wurttumberg, and the creature guarding his supposed tomb.

It is my belief that Joanna is, or was, known as Gertrude Robinson. I believe it I more than possible for a clearly well connected founder of a paranormal society to have an occult method to extend her lifespan. She even kept her original role as an archivist. Outside of pure speculation and coincidence the one piece of evidence for this is that the only person who would possibly be aware of any archivist before her is Elias, and maybe even he doesn't know.

The second and far more likely of my theory is that Johan Von Wurttumberg, is now known as Juergen Lightner. They are connected through the Kaey family, and the book that Albrecht Von Closen discovered. Also their names have linguistic similarities. There first names are obviously similar but their last names are where the connection becomes more obvious. The Württumberg is the name of a hill or, if your were being polite, mountain in the German region of its namesake. The word Lightner is Hebrew for mountain. Both have clear occult interest, specifically the collection or creation of grimoires.

The final one is a bit of a stretch. The groundskeeper that attacked the aforementioned Albrecht could be another instance of Michael, or another example of what it is. I must admit the only link here is both have an unusual laugh, a twisted sense of whimsy and a clear but indirect wish to protect those it comes in contact with from their own curiosity, if just barely.

What do you think?

[spooniermist]

This is a really interesting idea, and fully within the sort of crazy twists we're likely to see within TMA. However, if I may play devil's advocate:

As pointed out elsewhere, Joanna is Jonah. Although it's possible that Jonah is pretending to be a 50 year old woman a few hundred years after he should have died, I don't think it too likely. From a literary point of view, it's good to have these sort of links hinted at, and being the same gender seems important. We've also not seen any evidence of life-extending shizzle, although there have been hints of possessions.

Interesting about the surnames, I feel this is more plausible than the Jonah-Gertrude link. We never saw inside Johan's coffin, so it's possible that there's nothing there. The similar surnames is exactly the literary technique that I'd expect (from a fourth-wall-breaking point of view!). Although, it's worth noting that Jurgen's surname is spelt Leitner, although it still refers to someone who lived near a mountain.

I personally feel that the gravewarden-Michael link is tenuous as well: the gravewarden disappeared, not something that Michael has been shown to do, nor was the gravewarden a distorted figure with over-large hands, which is a common occurrence with Michael. A dark laugh and sense of humour could be chalked up to horror/esoteric tropes. I'm all about EVERYONE IS MICHAEL, but I don't really believe it

But, all that said, anything is possible. I don't think we know anywhere near enough about anything in TMA to be certain of anything. There are patterns and themes, but these could be nothing or they could be really important, it's so hard to tell! That's most of the charm for me with TMA, is making crazy theories and evolving them, like my UNCANNY DIMENSIONS theory, which seems to develop with each episode.

[archangel1313]

I admit the second was by far the more likely of the three. Lightner was a typo 😅 I'm still convinced that Jonah/Joanna is a women. Partially because that's how I first heard it when I listened to MAG23. But also because outside the Jewish community the name Jonah or indeed any other minor Jewish prophet names were uncommen to say the least in Victorian London, and with a last name of Magnus I doubt that our founder was a member. On the ther hand you have Sampson Kempthorne. Also, I admit to being narratively biased as I find a women in an extremely misogynistic time founding a paranormal society, again in a time when societies such as the Hermetic order of the Golden Dawn was militaristicly male, a fascinating trope.

I only listed the groundskeeper as after listening I noted some tiny similarities that caught fire in the back of my mind. As you say, it is infinitely more likely that it ways just standard (if such a word can even be applied to the archives) horror tropes.

[archangel1313]

Feb 3, 2017 18:02:43 GMT archangel1313 said:

I'm still convinced that Jonah/Joanna is a women.

Officially Jossed by Johnny 😥 Sad face

[Jonny]

Sorry - your theories were facinating and thematically had certain resonances that actually I'm a bit sad I've mostly locked out of my plan for who Jonah Magnus was, but i didn't feel it was fair to let you disappear too far down a rabbit hole based on my unintentionally ambiguous pronunciation.

I love sprawling, intense speculation, but I feel it's only fair to make sure it's not based on accidentally inaccurate information

[archangel1313]

A sentiment I deeply appreciate.

I must still maintain that at the very least however, there is a greater link between Johan and Leitner, I believe that the link between the names are more than just a 4th wall break, but a lack of imagination on behalf of Johan, sort of how it is a trope for those seeking a new identity to use an anagram.

I am more than Look forward to further episodes which directly feature these characters ☺️